Systems and methods for search query processing using trend analysis

Abstract

Systems and methods for processing search requests include analyzing received queries in order to provide a more sophisticated understanding of the information being sought. In one embodiment, queries are parsed into units, which may comprise one or more words or tokens of the query, and the units are related in concept networks. Trend analysis is performed by sorting the queries into subsets along a dimension of interest and comparing concept networks for different subsets. Trend information is usable to enhance a response of an automated search agent to a subsequently received query.

1. A method for processing queries, the method comprising the steps of:
 sorting queries into a plurality of subsets based on a dimension, 
 wherein the plurality of subsets includes a first subset and a second subset; 
 generating a first concept network for the first subset of queries; 
 generating a second concept network for the second subset of queries; 
 performing a comparison between the first concept network and the second concept network; and 
 generating trend information based on the comparison; 
 wherein the steps are performed by one or more computing devices. 
 
   
   
     2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the dimension is a time dimension. 
   
   
     3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the dimension is defined by reference to one or more demographic characteristics of users. 
   
   
     4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the dimension is a geographic dimension. 
   
   
     5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the dimension is a vertical dimension representing a user context of the query. 
   
   
     6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of generating trend information includes generating trend information for said unit relative to the dimension. 
   
   
     7. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving a first query, wherein the first query contains one or more terms; and 
 using the trend information in formulating a response to the first query, wherein a response to the first query contains one or more records. 
 
   
   
     8. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the method further comprises:
 using the trend information to resolve an ambiguous term of the first query. 
 
   
   
     9. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the method further comprises:
 using the trend information to suggest a second query, wherein the second query contains at least one term different than said first query. 
 
   
   
     10. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the method further comprises:
 using the trend information to group the one or more records in the response to the first query. 
 
   
   
     11. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the method further comprises: using the trend information to select an advertisement for display. 
   
   
     12. A system for processing queries, comprising:
 one or more processors; 
 a memory, operatively coupled to the processors; 
 a trend analysis module stored in the memory and configured to cause the one or more processors to sort a set of queries into a plurality of subsets based on a dimension, wherein the plurality of subsets includes a first subset and a second subset; 
 a clustering module stored in the memory and configured to cause the one or more processors to generate a first concept network for the first subset of queries and a second concept network for the second subset of queries; and 
 wherein the trend analysis module is further configured to cause the one or more processors to perform a comparison between the first concept network and the second concept network concept networks for at least two of the subsets, thereby generating trend information. 
 
   
   
     13. The system of  claim 12 , wherein the dimension is a time dimension. 
   
   
     14. The system of  claim 12 , wherein the dimension is defined by reference to one or more demographic characteristics of users. 
   
   
     15. The system of  claim 12 , wherein the dimension is a geographical dimension. 
   
   
     16. The system of  claim 12 , wherein the dimension is a vertical dimension representing a user context of the query. 
   
   
     17. The system of  claim 12 , wherein the trend analysis module is further configured to cause the one or more processors to generate trend information for said unit relative to the dimension. 
   
   
     18. The system of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a response module stored in the memory and configured to cause the one or more processors to receive a first query, wherein the first query contains one or more terms, and to formulate a response to the first query based at least in part on the trend information, wherein the response to the first query contains one or more records. 
 
   
   
     19. The system of  claim 18 , wherein the response module is further configured to cause the one or more processors to use the trend information to resolve an ambiguous term of the first query. 
   
   
     20. The system of  claim 18 , wherein the response module is further configured to cause the one or more processors to use the trend information to suggest a second query, wherein the second query contains at least one term different from said first query. 
   
   
     21. The system of  claim 18 , wherein the response module is further configured to cause the one or more processors to use the trend information to group one or more records in the response to the first query. 
   
   
     22. The system of  claim 18 , wherein the response module is further configured to cause the one or more processors to use the trend information to select an advertisement for display. 
   
   
     23. A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in  claim 1 . 
   
   
     24. A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in  claim 2 . 
   
   
     25. A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in  claim 3 . 
   
   
     26. A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in  claim 4 . 
   
   
     27. A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in  claim 5 . 
   
   
     28. A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in  claim 1 , wherein the step of generating trend information includes performing a comparison of information from the first concept network related to a unit with information from a second concept network related to the same unit. 
   
   
     29. A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in  claim 6 . 
   
   
     30. A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in  claim 7 . 
   
   
     31. A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in  claim 8 . 
   
   
     32. A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in  claim 9 . 
   
   
     33. A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in  claim 10 . 
   
   
     34. A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in  claim 11 .